Chapter 53: The Little Brother Taking Out the Trash

Turning his head to look, he realized Zhou Zhexiao had put the milk tea cup on his leg at some point. There was still more than half left, but he had been staring at Xia Chiyi for a long time.

“How is it, feeling greedy?” Xia Chiyi raised his eyebrows slightly.

“You could be a mukbang streamer,” Zhou Zhexiao said.

Taking this as a compliment, Xia Chiyi waved at Zhou Zhexiao. “I’ll let you have a bite.”

Hearing this, Ye Chaoying immediately knocked on Xia Chiyi’s table. “Stop right there. Think about the consequences of buying him milk tea; he became obsessed with the pearls inside ever since. If you let him taste the braised beef noodles, what will you do if he gets obsessed with the seasoning packet?”

Ling Huanzhen and Jiao Yingfeng couldn’t control Zhou Zhexiao.

It was fine when he drank milk tea before; at least milk tea didn’t smell much.

If he chose to make instant noodles in the dorm every day, oh my god… that would simply be a disaster movie.

Xia Chiyi smiled apologetically at Zhou Zhexiao. “This really isn’t suitable for you. You have more temperament drinking milk tea.”

But unexpectedly, Zhou Zhexiao had already put down the milk tea, pulled a chair over, and sat next to Xia Chiyi’s desk.

“Holy crap, the wheels of fate cannot be stopped.” Ye Chaoying decided not to watch any further. “When Fatty comes back, we need to set a rule: whoever wants to eat instant noodles must finish eating before coming back.”

Xia Chiyi had eaten dinner at the cafeteria. After half a bowl of instant noodles, he was actually somewhat full and didn’t have much obsession with finishing the rest.

However, Zhou Zhexiao was sitting beside him, watching it just like a child looking at a beloved toy in a shop window, only touching it after getting permission from parents. That “so well-behaved” feeling came back again.

“Declaration first, I bite off the noodles I can’t finish in one mouthful and they fall back into the soup. Are you sure you don’t mind?” Xia Chiyi gave him a chance to save himself.

“Don’t mind.”

Xia Chiyi handed the plastic fork to the other person.

Sure enough, Zhou Zhexiao took the fork. He swirled it twice in the soup, only picking up two strands of noodles, making Xia Chiyi want to laugh.

“Let me do it, let me do it. You’re no good even at eating instant noodles.”

Xia Chiyi casually swirled the fork in the soup, and the noodles were rolled up. “Lower your head and lean over, buddy. Don’t drip noodle soup on my desk, or the smell really won’t go away.”

Zhou Zhexiao rested his hands on his knees and leaned his face over. Xia Chiyi’s left hand cupped under his chin, while his right hand fed the noodles into his mouth.

In that instant, looking at the tip of Zhou Zhexiao’s nose and his lowered eyelashes, the scene of him taking the lemon slice from his mouth in the bar came back again.

When Zhou Zhexiao’s lips closed around the fork, Xia Chiyi’s blood rushed up uncontrollably, and his heart almost turned into a hot air balloon.

“How is it?” Xia Chiyi asked.

“Mn.” Zhou Zhexiao nodded.

This probably meant “more.”

Xia Chiyi carefully examined Zhou Zhexiao’s expression; this eager look was actually kind of cute.

Forget it, there isn’t much left anyway. I’ll just feed it all to Zhou Zhexiao.

If we’re going to get fat, let’s get fat together.

“Sigh, I just want to remind you that Fatty has a lot of disposable chopsticks left over from takeout. You guys really don’t need to be so frugal.” Ye Chaoying really couldn’t watch anymore.

“Oh, right.” Just as Xia Chiyi was about to get up to find chopsticks, his knee was bumped by Zhou Zhexiao.

The other party willfully lifted his chin, his gaze landing on the plastic fork.

Xia Chiyi felt a bit helpless yet amused. “I think you just want me to feed you!”

Zhou Zhexiao remained silent, while Ye Chaoying clutched his stomach laughing. “You’re too slow on the uptake!”

However, Zhou Zhexiao was quite loyal. An hour after they finished the instant noodles, Zhou Zhexiao accompanied him to run laps on the playground.

Since they each ate half, the three thousand meters were split in half, with each person running one thousand five hundred meters.

Running side by side, Xia Chiyi chatted while running.

“Actually, life isn’t just about basketball.”

“Mn, there’s also online shopping, bubble tea, and braised beef noodles.”

Xia Chiyi frowned. “Your way of putting it really isn’t romantic at all!”

Zhou Zhexiao fell silent.

“There’s also watermelon in summer and hotpot in winter.”

“What’s the difference from what I said?” Zhou Zhexiao asked back.

“I haven’t finished yet.” Xia Chiyi turned around, looking at Zhou Zhexiao while running backward. “And you, who reunited with me.”

Zhou Zhexiao’s heart palpitated violently at that moment.

Xia Chiyi under the illumination lights was engraved on Zhou Zhexiao’s retinas. He suddenly wished he could become a video recorder to record every moment of him.

Xia Chiyi ran quickly to the front. “When we were kids fighting for toys, you bit my head open! Who knew we would grow up to become teammates on the same team!”

Zhou Zhexiao looked at Xia Chiyi’s back for a long time.

Yes, we reunited.

It’s just that the childhood you would hide in the bathroom and cry because of failing a ninety-degree shot after receiving the ball.

But the current you says you want to realize that almost impossible dream with me.

They had only run three laps when Xia Chiyi started to play tricks, pretending to dribble with his right hand and constantly squeezing Zhou Zhexiao on the left side, acting like he wanted to break through with confrontation.

Zhou Zhexiao immediately stabilized his lower body and practiced with him.

Their last few laps turned into confrontation practice.

Zhou Zhexiao’s defensive confrontation was the toughest Xia Chiyi had encountered among so many people.

“Still the Bandit Chief’s Wife today.” Zhou Zhexiao’s eyes held a faint smile.

“I’m a guy!”

“Alright, Bandit Chief’s Husband.”

“Get lost, there’s no difference.”

When they returned to the dorm, Ye Chaoying glanced at the time and said coolly, “Did you two go run fifteen hundred meters or go for a stroll? Coming back after half an hour?”

There was a rich smell of spicy beef instant noodles in the dorm; it seemed to be Fatty’s masterpiece.

“I really can’t survive in this dorm anymore.”

Ye Chaoying took out his cologne worth five hundred yuan a bottle and sprayed it several times. The fragrance mixed with the instant noodle smell made him gag even worse.

They opened the windows and doors to ventilate for a long time before returning to normal.

Lying in bed, Xia Chiyi opened WeChat Moments. Besides teammates and classmates, he found that people from Qincheng University had actually liked and commented on his post.

Yang Huaiyu: [Imagining you eating instant noodles, you’re either a hamster or a pufferfish.]

Ke Yan: [Instant noodles without ham sausage and marinated egg = no soul]

Meng Ting: [I still prefer the seafood fish cake flavor.]

He Zhan: [It tastes better heated in the microwave!]

Xia Chiyi clicked open Yang Huaiyu’s chat box: [When will you fulfill your promise? The next time we meet won’t be at the regional competition, will it?]

Yang Huaiyu: [Is Little Chiyi missing me while eating instant noodles? I’ll bring oyster pancakes to see you right now!]

Xia Chiyi: [Vomiting expression GIF]

At this moment, Yang Huaiyu put down his phone and patted the bed frame. “Ah Yan, someone misses me.”

“Oh? How much do they miss you?” Ke Yan leaned against the headboard flipping through a textbook.

“Miss me to the point of vomiting.”

“Your fans are truly gifted.”

“I’m talking about Xia Chiyi. Hey, they have a practice match with Shenghai University this weekend. It’s said they won both games. And Little Chiyi led Ningchang University’s second team against Shenghai University’s second team, scoring 45 points alone. I really want to see it.” Yang Huaiyu exhaled deeply.

Ke Yan frowned. “Wait… I didn’t know that. Where did you find out? Ningchang University’s official account didn’t write the practice match results.”

“I’m in Xia Chiyi’s fan group. Including me, his fan group has exactly one hundred people.” Yang Huaiyu said with a smile.

Ke Yan choked on his own saliva.

“What major illness do you have? Did you also infiltrate Liu Shuochen’s fan group?”

Yang Huaiyu said calmly, “Why would I go in there? His fan group is definitely stepping on me all the time.”

“Then did you join my fan group?” Ke Yan asked again. “We’re teammates, but I don’t see you caring about me!”

“Yeah, you’re my teammate, not my opponent. Why would I stare at you?”

“What you said makes so much sense, but why do I want to throw the desk lamp at your face? Hurry up and withdraw. If Xia Chiyi’s fans discover you one day, be careful they don’t treat you as an anti-fan and tear you apart for eight hundred streets!”

“It’s very necessary to join his fan group. His fan group often analyzes his techniques. For example, today someone from the student union saw with their own eyes on-site that Shenghai University used a double-team tactic against him.” Yang Huaiyu’s fingers pressed quickly on the screen, discussing with other fans how to clamp down on a three-point shooter like Xia Chiyi who was good at dribbling.

Ke Yan said coolly, “Meng Ting and He Zhan can’t completely clamp him down. I think there’s no such person in Shenghai University.”

“But listening to this on-site description, Xia Chiyi’s confrontation ability should have improved a lot. You know it hasn’t been many days since he left us.”

Yang Huaiyu turned his face sideways, looking at Ke Yan.

A sense of crisis surged in his heart. Ningchang University was an opponent they had to understand in advance.

“Got it. We must drag Li Shunchuan along this time. His half-dead appearance is most suitable to be stimulated by Xia Chiyi,” Ke Yan said.

“Mn.” Yang Huaiyu sent the result of his discussion with Ke Yan to Meng Ting and He Zhan. These two were as excited as if they were going on a trip to Ningchang.

When Xia Chiyi put down his phone to sleep, he didn’t know yet that Yang Huaiyu had already decided to launch a surprise attack.

The next day, Zhou Zhexiao finally played in the practice match. This guy played impressively in the small forward position.

One moment cutting into the basket for a violent dunk, another seemingly going for a vertical layup but suddenly passing to He Bin, and most importantly, performing several confrontational layups.

It was as if he deliberately let Xia Chiyi observe how to exert force in confrontational layups.

Ye Chaoying retreated while defending, winking at He Bin.

Helplessly, He Bin didn’t get it. “Ye Chaoying, are your eyes uncomfortable?”

“Your eyes are the ones uncomfortable! Didn’t you see Zhou Zhexiao is strutting like a peacock?”

He Bin: “Isn’t this his usual level?”

Just at this moment, Zhou Zhexiao decelerated and took a step inward sideways, perfectly blocking the defender’s steps, making the opponent lose the chance to jump and defend, easily scoring a layup.

Although Xia Chiyi was sitting on the chair, his feet subconsciously moved back and forth following Zhou Zhexiao’s movements, making the chair creak.

The noise made the veins on Ling Huanzhen’s forehead throb. He pressed down on Xia Chiyi’s shoulder. “Just follow him with your brain!”

Only then did Xia Chiyi quiet down.

Next, facing two defenders, Zhou Zhexiao shook left and right with the ball, followed by a hook shot. Shenghai University’s players were dumbfounded.

Coach Guan Qian on the sidelines frowned. Honestly, he now knew the characteristics of every player in Ningchang University, but each seemed to have room for improvement. He didn’t know what level they would reach in the regional competition in March.

Like that Xia Chiyi, when you thought he definitely wasn’t good at something, seeing him the second time, he had already overcome or was overcoming that shortcoming.

As for Zhou Zhexiao, Guan Qian, who had seen all kinds of players, found he couldn’t gauge his depth. He was like a toolbox of skills.

When all the training matches ended, Shenghai University only won the last game.

Ningchang University sent a school bus to take Coach Guan and his group to the high-speed railway station.

The two coaches sat in the front row.

Ling Huanzhen looked at Guan Qian’s tightly knitted brows and bumped him lightly. “Don’t look so bitter and hateful. If we make it to the national top eight this year, losing the practice match won’t be shameful for you.”

Guan Qian sighed. “How can you tell me not to worry? Your reserve of guard talent is rich, with Ye Chaoying, He Bin, Xia Chiyi, and even that Fu Chenxue playing decently. Look at me…”

“The moon waxes and wanes; prosperity must decline.”

As soon as Ling Huanzhen’s voice fell, Guan Qian raised his fist to hit him. Ling Huanzhen quickly grabbed his fist.

“I mean… look at our so-called ‘Golden Generation’. Ever since that guy Sheng Xingming left, it seemed like an omen. Our group of people also stepped down one by one, and the entire men’s basketball team went downhill. But, Old Guan… as long as you can endure loneliness, as long as you wait for the person you need, the moon will become round again.”

Hearing Ling Huanzhen’s words, Guan Qian’s brow relaxed, and he said sullenly, “I know.”

“Yeah, it’s good that you know.”

“I heard that both Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao were cut by Ma Hongming.”

“Uh… yes.”

“So I decided that during next year’s recruitment, I’ll specifically come to Jin Province to squat and focus on recruiting from those cut by Ma Hongming.”

Ling Huanzhen scratched his head. “I was wondering why you copied my problem-solving steps?”

“You have an opinion?” Guan Qian took out his phone. “Just now, the coach of Shenghai Jiaotong University asked me how I felt about spending the weekend in Ningchang.”

“What does that mean? Does Shenghai Jiaotong University still think you can brutally abuse us?”

“I honestly said you are very strong, and I learned a lesson from the training match. Maybe I was too humble; should I withdraw it?”

“Don’t, don’t, don’t… When you come to Ningchang for recruitment, I definitely won’t fight with you, okay?”

“Of course, you already have Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao. You can use them for at least three years.”

Ling Huanzhen’s expression rarely became serious.

Three years? He didn’t think these two had three years to spend.

His and Jiao Yingfeng’s goal was to send them to a higher-level arena after next year’s First-Class League national finals.

At this time, Xia Chiyi’s fan group was discussing actively.

[Heard Zhou Zhexiao was handsomely explosive today!]

[People from the student union said Zhou Zhexiao’s layup is as smooth as the earth is round!]

[Clearly, there wasn’t a single dunk, but it just made Cub Chiyi unable to look away~]

[So annoying, why didn’t Coach Ling arrange for the two of them to play together!]

…

In the evening, Yang Huaiyu came back from running, took a sip of water, and just opened WeChat when he found that the unread chat records in the Xia Chiyi fan group he joined were almost breaking a hundred.

Surprisingly, everyone was saying Zhou Zhexiao was handsomely explosive, mesmerizing Xia Chiyi so much he couldn’t look away?

Yang Huaiyu chuckled lightly and slowly typed in WeChat: [Looking at the national top eight, there are plenty of people more amazing than Zhou Zhexiao.]

[Buddy upstairs, why don’t you tell us who they are!]

Yang Huaiyu thought, Since you asked, of course, I have to answer: [Qincheng University’s Yang Huaiyu!]

Before he could send the sentence “One of the three great god-level visuals of the First-Class League,” someone named “Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes” actually replied: [There’s also Qing University’s Liu Shuochen and Southwest Aviation University’s Lu Yingnan. Added together, they are the three giants of the First-Class League, with strength and looks flying together.]

The more Yang Huaiyu looked at that ID, the more subtle he felt. Clicking it open, it turned out to be his friend, and precisely Ke Yan sleeping opposite him!

Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes: [Among them, Liu Shuochen was last year’s MVP and was selected for the National Youth Team. It’s said Qing University has already filed the application, and Liu Shuochen will still participate in the First-Class League this year.]

Yang Huaiyu turned his face sideways to look at Ke Yan opposite him. Sure enough, the other party’s fingers were pressing quickly on the phone.

Soon, that “Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes” sent a message again: [Lu Yingnan was last year’s Steals King, known as the number one point guard and strongest brain of the University First-Class League.]

[Wow, buddy knows so much. Many of us in this group are freshmen, and some just started paying attention to the University First-Class League. Tell us more!]

[Then what about Yang Huaiyu mentioned by that buddy just now? How is his level? Not just handsome, right?]

Yang Huaiyu propped his chin and looked across, hoping Ke Yan could feel the gaze from him.

But Ke Yan was unmoved and even slid further into the quilt, leaving only a pair of eyes outside.

[Yang Huaiyu, whether it’s physical conditions for basketball or that skin bag, can barely be counted as “god-level visual.” After all, no one expects a basketball player to act in idol dramas, right?]

Yang Huaiyu turned sideways, propped his chin, and spoke lazily, “My dear roommate and teammate, I’m not dead yet. May I ask if you feel my gaze?”

Ke Yan acted as if he didn’t hear Yang Huaiyu speak and continued to reply in the group: [It’s said this Yang Huaiyu can skip two out of three basketball team training sessions a week. If he can complete eighty percent of the training plan given by the physical coach, that coach will reward himself with a chicken leg. In short, discounts are non-negotiable].

[Wow, so arrogant? Why hasn’t he been expelled from the school team yet?]

Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes: [Because his strength is indeed heaven-defying. But how much he can perform depends on the opponent’s looks.]

[So Yang Huaiyu is a face-dog (looks-obsessed)?]

Watch Our Ace Not Make Mistakes: [Yes, so even though they are arch-enemies, he can still hang out with Liu Shuochen.]

“Hey, Ke Yan… that’s Xia Chiyi’s fan group. What’s the use of you slandering me in there?” Yang Huaiyu spread his hands helplessly.

“Afraid you’d expose yourself,” Ke Yan said, threw the phone aside, and burrowed into the quilt to sleep.

Yang Huaiyu turned over, looking at the ceiling. “Actually, I like Xia Chiyi very much.”

Ke Yan coughed violently in the quilt. “W-what? You actually turned bent? I was wondering why you would join a freshman’s fan group for no reason! Do you know how many fans there were after I joined?”

“One hundred and one, what’s wrong?”

“It means don’t think about it, stay single!”

“I mean… I like Xia Chiyi’s trait of absorbing nutrition from everyone. Every time I look at him, I feel my gaze subconsciously follows upward. I’ll be very curious, what will he learn from me next time? And… will there be a day when there’s nothing left on me worth his learning.”

By that time, he probably wouldn’t look at himself with that expectant and yearning ga*ze anymore.

Ke Yan’s muffled voice came from the quilt, “Because Xia Chiyi gave you everything you wanted.”

“Huh?” This time it was Yang Huaiyu who didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“You wanted someone to see you, and Xia Chiyi did it.”

“What the hell are you saying? I’m not invisible; who can’t see me?”

“Because no one thinks you can beat Liu Shuochen one day. You are forever in Liu Shuochen’s shadow.”

Yang Huaiyu gradually put away the casual smile on his face.

“Even if Liu Shuochen gets along with you well, in his heart, you are just the challenger following closest behind him.”

“Ke Yan, your mouth is so poisonous.”

“I haven’t finished—no one even thinks that one day, you can defeat Liu Shuochen. Our Coach Ren thinks so, teammates think so, and your trainer probably thinks so too. You expect someone to say to you, ‘I think you can defeat Liu Shuochen.’ But words like this… even if we really said them, you wouldn’t believe it, right? And… saying such things to you casually is very irresponsible. After all, even I don’t dare say we can defeat Qing University.”

Yang Huaiyu fell silent.

“By the way, why did you join Xia Chiyi’s fan group for no reason! He himself isn’t in the group; you are engaging in invalid friendship.” Ke Yan suddenly thought of something and turned over to ask.

Yang Huaiyu smiled and shared a Weibo post with Ke Yan.

It was a poll posted by a basketball blogger on Weibo: Predicting this year’s Qincheng University vs. Qing University, can Yang Huaiyu avenge Liu Shuochen’s wild scoring of 18 points?

Most netizens chose “No.” Those supporting Yang Huaiyu were basically a few Qincheng University alumni, and their voices were almost drowned out by the artillery fire of other netizens.

[Liu Shuochen is at the youth training team level. Yang Huaiyu is at best the top of the pyramid among university students. Professional VS Amateur, the blogger’s prediction is purely boring!]

[Yang Huaiyu can’t guard Liu Shuochen at all, okay? In those classic ten minutes last year, Yang Huaiyu was beaten into a sieve!]

[Do you know that four words ‘Southeast Division’ should be added before Yang Huaiyu’s title of ‘King of Double Clutch’? Because in front of Liu Shuochen, he didn’t have a single chance for a double-clutch layup!]

…

Looking at it, the blood vessels on Ke Yan’s forehead throbbed. “Huaiyu, you’re so big now. Netizens always praise the high and step on the low. Why give them face?”

“There’s a little brother named ‘Today I Want to Go Downstairs to Take Out the Trash’ in there, very cute.” Yang Huaiyu turned his face and smiled.

“Huh?”

Ke Yan scrolled for a long time and finally found that “Today I Want to Go Downstairs to Take Out the Trash.” He retorted almost every comment that was snidely mocking Yang Huaiyu.

[The village dog barked, and other dogs followed suit! What do you mean Yang Huaiyu is amateur? Have you watched professional basketball games? Back then, Qing University’s coach Li Xiaoran defended Jiao Yingfeng, and Jiao Yingfeng scored 7 three-pointers in ten minutes. According to your logic, what CBA is Li Xiaoran playing? With his sieve-like defense, he has the nerve to coach the Qing University basketball team?]

Qin University alumni were frantically liking underneath.

Finally, someone said what Ke Yan wanted to say but didn’t dare. The metaphor “The village dog barked” was both scathing and vivid. Ke Yan almost liked it, suddenly remembering this was his main account.

[Buddy upstairs, wipe your eye boogers clean before speaking! What do you mean Yang Huaiyu can’t guard Liu Shuochen? Were the first three quarters automatically deleted by your brain? Yang Huaiyu scored 32 points in the first three quarters, Liu Shuochen only got 25 points. Counting the fourth quarter, Yang Huaiyu had 41 points, Liu Shuochen 43 points. It’s clearly half a jin against eight taels (six of one, half a dozen of the other)! What, you know 2 plus 1 equals 3, but can’t solve it when changed to 1 plus 2?]

Ke Yan rolled up in the quilt and laughed happily. “Yeah, your scores were actually similar!”

[Yang Huaiyu didn’t have a single chance for a double-clutch layup in front of Liu Shuochen? Buddy, you need a pump in your brain! Yang Huaiyu made two hook shots, one dunk, and two three-pointers over Liu Shuochen’s head. Do you have selective amnesia? So you don’t even understand basketball rules, thinking only double-clutch layups count as scoring?]

Ke Yan looked at Yang Huaiyu. “He studied your game, remembering clearly even how many times you broke through Liu Shuochen to score.”

“Mn, isn’t this trash-taking-out little brother very cute?” Yang Huaiyu asked with a smile.

Ke Yan froze for a moment. “Could this be Xia Chiyi?”

“This should be his alternate Weibo account. He posted a pair of limited edition sneakers he wore when he came for the match.”

“That might not necessarily be him. Even for limited editions, there are a few thousand pairs distributed globally.”

“The way the shoelaces are tied,” Yang Huaiyu hinted.

Ke Yan looked carefully at those sneakers again. The shoelaces were tied on the side, indeed a very special way of tying.

He covered his eyes. “It really seems to be Xia Chiyi.”

Although this game had passed for several months, the coach’s comfort, alumni’s comfort, all kinds of comfort and encouragement were like templates, such as “Win back next year,” “Everyone tried their best,” “If you can’t topple Qing University once, then twice.”

Every mode of comfort and encouragement told them—you lost, and you might not win next time.

Instead, Xia Chiyi, this “trash-taking-out little brother,” spoke out for justice, seeming to really clear out some of the trash in their hearts.

Ke Yan realized that Xia Chiyi’s perspective on this game was different from theirs.

Even more positive, and more objective.

Ke Yan continued to scroll and saw the last comment left by Xia Chiyi: [Liu Shuochen fears Yang Huaiyu. From the first to the third quarter, Qing University’s Geng Lu always followed Liu Shuochen. Although he didn’t participate in direct defense, he continuously posed a threat to Yang Huaiyu. Running the whole court wearing shackles, Yang Huaiyu scoring 32 points makes him a well-deserved hero.]

Geng Lu?

In last year’s game, Ke Yan played a total of 12 minutes, mainly concentrated in the fourth quarter.

Ke Yan’s impression of Geng Lu was a super-powerful point guard. His passes were indeed very precise, but how did he become Yang Huaiyu’s shackles?

Ke Yan couldn’t resist opening the video of that game and watching it carefully again. putting himself in Yang Huaiyu’s shoes, he had a feeling of enlightenment.

Geng Lu’s positioning was meticulously planned—he was always near Yang Huaiyu, neither deliberately stealing nor cutting the ball, causing other Qincheng University players not to feel it. But because of his existence, he formed a triangle with Liu Shuochen, blocking Yang Huaiyu’s offensive route.

Like a tripwire that could tighten at any time!

This feeling, maybe only Yang Huaiyu could experience… No, that’s not right. At that time, Coach Ren also said Geng Lu’s positioning posed a threat to Yang Huaiyu, but they were exhausted dealing with their own positions and couldn’t empathize with Yang Huaiyu at all. They were all relying on their ace to adjust himself.

But… Xia Chiyi saw it.

He saw that tripwire.

He knew how amazing Yang Huaiyu was for crossing that tripwire time and again to score!

Ke Yan’s heart suddenly tightened. It was a regret for the past and also guilt towards Yang Huaiyu.

Because in the 12 minutes he played, he didn’t help Yang Huaiyu either.

“Hey, how about… you go find him,” Ke Yan said softly.

“Hmm? Find who?”

“That ‘Today I Want to Go Downstairs to Take Out the Trash’ little brother.” Ke Yan said in a muffled voice.

“Find him… for what?” Yang Huaiyu asked.

“With him, watch the recording of you being defeated by Liu Shuochen last year again. Maybe he can give you a different perspective.”

After speaking, Ke Yan felt that as a teammate, he was really too magnanimous, actually inciting his teammate to seek comfort from someone else.

In March next year, the regional competition would begin. Although Qincheng University and Qing University weren’t in the same division, Ke Yan still hoped Yang Huaiyu could get over this hurdle as soon as possible.

Last year Qincheng University suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Qing University. Yang Huaiyu defended Liu Shuochen solo, but let Liu Shuochen score 18 points in the last quarter.

No matter what comfort and affirmation those around him gave Yang Huaiyu, it seemed unable to help him cross that natural chasm.

Maybe the reason they couldn’t enlighten Yang Huaiyu was that having experienced failure, they hadn’t let go themselves, so how could they persuade Yang Huaiyu to look forward?

The next afternoon, Coach Ren Xin crossed her arms and asked Ke Yan, “Ah Yan, where’s the guy sleeping opposite you? Why did he skip training again? His phone isn’t even in the service range?”

Ke Yan froze for a moment. This guy was really willing to spend money. Instead of taking the high-speed train, he actually took a plane! Extravagant! Showing off wealth! Damn it!

“Coach Ren, you also know he sleeps opposite me, not in my bed. We don’t exchange heartfelt words much.”

Other teammates laughed softly.

A boy with a droopy face was running laps around the basketball court. When passing by, someone shouted, “Fifty laps.”

Only then did the boy stop, walking slowly on the sidelines.

“Alright, when he comes back, punish him to run a hundred laps for absenting training without reason.”

Ke Yan looked up. “What if he’s heartbroken after coming back?”

“Did he report before getting heartbroken?” Coach Ren Xin snorted coldly and scooped the boy who ran fifty laps to her side. “Besides, running is conducive to dopamine secretion. Li Shunchuan, do you feel happy now?”

Li Shunchuan shook his head, weak and feeble: “No…”

“Fifty laps isn’t enough, then make it a hundred laps.”

“No no no, I’m very… very happy now…”

Meng Ting and He Zhan looked at Ke Yan with resentful eyes, as if saying: That traitor actually abandoned them and secretly ran to Ningchang!

After Yang Huaiyu’s plane landed in Ningchang, he called Xia Chiyi several times but no one answered. He had to send him a WeChat message: [I arrived in Ningchang City. Any reception?]

No reply.

Maybe the other party was in class.

Yang Huaiyu smiled. At worst, he would really treat it as a trip to Ningchang City.

He took a taxi to Ningchang University and wandered slowly around the campus. The greenery here seemed a bit worse than Qincheng University.

He was tall, handsome, and had a polite smile, easily making people feel fond of him.

Passing students couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.

“Um, excuse me, student. Can I ask if you know a boy named Xia Chiyi? He’s on the school basketball team.”

The girl opened her eyes wide, standing on tiptoe to look at him, making Yang Huaiyu suspect if he hadn’t wiped his mouth clean after the in-flight meal.

“You are… you are Qincheng University’s Yang Huaiyu, right?”

“You… you know me?”

“I’m a student union officer, my name is Liang Qin. If you’re looking for Xia Chiyi, he shouldn’t be at school at this time, but outside with a trainer.”

“Oh, no wonder.”

Yang Huaiyu wasn’t surprised at all that someone of Xia Chiyi’s level had his own trainer. If he was training, it was excusable not to answer the phone.

“How about I take you to the basketball hall? Coach Ling should be there.”

“No need, I came specifically to find Xia Chiyi for something.”

“Then wait a moment, I’ll help you contact his roommate.”

Liang Qin immediately called Pang Shuai, then took Yang Huaiyu to the entrance of the freshman boys’ dormitory.

Not long after, a chubby boy was seen running out in a panic.

“Yang… Yang Huaiyu… long… long heard of your great name… I… I…”

Before seeing Yang Huaiyu’s face clearly, Pang Shuai panted heavily with hands on knees.

“It’s okay, I came on a whim. You guys are so enthusiastic, I’m really embarrassed.”

Pang Shuai took Yang Huaiyu into the boys’ dormitory, explaining while going upstairs: “Xia Chiyi and Zhou Zhexiao went out for training. Another boy in the dorm named Ye Chaoying also went to practice. If you want to see them, I’m afraid you have to wait until after ten o’clock at night…”

“It doesn’t matter. Just bringing me into the dorm without telling Xia Chiyi, will he blame you?”

Pang Shuai froze for a moment. “Will he blame me? Aren’t you two… friends?”

Yang Huaiyu froze for a moment. “Is that what Xia Chiyi told you?”

Pang Shuai smiled. “Although he didn’t tell me, the expression when he mentioned you made me think so. He said your double-clutch layup is super amazing, hahaha… Once he imitated you, but the ball hit the backboard and fell on himself. It was hilarious.”

Ningchang University’s dorms were slightly smaller than Qincheng University’s, but quite cozy.

Yang Huaiyu pointed to a desk and asked, “Is this Xia Chiyi’s spot?”

“Hmm? How did you recognize it?” Pang Shuai asked curiously.

“Haha, this Basic Accounting book. There are marks of an instant noodle cup on the back. He just used it to cover instant noodles two days ago, right?”

Pang Shuai laughed along.

Then, hanging on the handrail by Xia Chiyi’s bed was a small green dinosaur neck pillow.

“Haha, this neck pillow really resembles its owner.”

“That was a ‘meeting gift’ Zhou Zhexiao gave him.”

“So Zhou Zhexiao also sleeps here?”

“Yeah, just next to him. They sleep head to head. The Guan Yu and Zhang Fei of our dorm.”

Yang Huaiyu laughed hearing this. His eyes were gentle, without any killing intent from the court. Pang Shuai had a high opinion of him.

Yang Huaiyu saw Pang Shuai’s open computer; the photo being edited happened to be Xia Chiyi. “Can I look?”

“Sure, I have many more. Let’s watch together!”

By 5:30 in the afternoon, Xia Chiyi finished his 21-point shooting training. Coming out of the shower and seeing the messages from Yang Huaiyu and Pang Shuai, he rushed excitedly to Zhou Zhexiao, hanging on his shoulders and shaking.

“Yang Huaiyu is here! Yang Huaiyu is right in our dorm!”

Zhou Zhexiao didn’t react much until Xia Chiyi’s cheek rubbed against his face. He leaned forward slightly, and indeed Xia Chiyi’s ear rubbed against his cheek again.

“You’re that happy?”

Xia Chiyi’s eyes were round and bright. “Of course I’m happy. My master is going to the Basketball Association for some meeting tomorrow, leaving only Uncle Fan. Yang Huaiyu coming, isn’t that a free sparring partner?”

“You’re really greedy.” Zhou Zhexiao pulled Xia Chiyi off his neck.

“How am I greedy?” Xia Chiyi showed a puzzled expression.

“Having me isn’t enough, you still want Yang Huaiyu. You like being double-teamed that much?”

“What are you talking about? I want to practice confrontational layups!” After speaking, Xia Chiyi bumped Zhou Zhexiao hard.

Tch, didn’t move him again.

The whole afternoon, Pang Shuai was flattered by Yang Huaiyu to the point of losing his direction.

“This shot is really good. If posted in Xia Chiyi’s fan group, it would be used as a computer wallpaper.”

“The angle of Zhou Zhexiao’s dunk in this one is too shocking. Your hand didn’t shake at all? Professional!”

“If Qincheng University also had a photographer like you, the players’ desire to perform would soar.”

Pang Shuai looked at Yang Huaiyu, finding him more handsome the more he looked.

The sound of running came from the corridor. Xia Chiyi pushed the door open with a woosh: “Yang Huaiyu—is it really you?”

Yang Huaiyu turned his face sideways, seeing Xia Chiyi’s sparkling eyes, suddenly feeling he received the highest level of reception.

“Go go go, to the cafeteria, my treat!”

Yang Huaiyu’s gaze looked past Xia Chiyi’s shoulder and saw Zhou Zhexiao.

This guy was carrying a sports bag on each shoulder. His face showed no emotion as he nodded faintly, considering it a greeting.